Fattah Keynotes at Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Conference

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), the lead Congressional supporter for youth mentoring will be the keynote speaker at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) 107^th annual national conference on Wednesday, May 1^st, in Orlando, Florida.

Fattah will address the 2,500 attendees on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and youth mentoring. As the Senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies, Fattah has led the way for millions of dollars to be directed to youth mentoring through federal mentoring grant programs.

"Woven in the fabric of every child's life is potential and possibility," said Fattah. "But it's not enough to recognize those qualities; we must also make sure kids have the tools they need to succeed, including a quality education and caring, dedicated mentors."

Fattah will also speak to the historic partnership he helped forge between the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and FIRST! (the robotics mentoring organization). Through his efforts, they formed the American Innovation and Mentorship (AIM) Agreement to provide Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) opportunities through FIRST's innovative robotics-based programming at 3,000 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide by 2015.

Fattah said of the AIM agreement, "Bringing these two youth organizations together is a perfect match, for the young people and for our nation's greatness. STEM education is education of the future, it is the foundation of American competitiveness."

In the 113^th Congress, Fattah will seek greater collaboration between the federal government and youth mentoring organizations.  In addition, Congressman Fattah will advocate for funding for youth mentoring programs which employ evidence-based practices, proposals he mentioned in a speech to youth mentors at the 2013 Mentoring Summit in Washington, DC.

 A champion for mentoring, BGCA recognized Fattah for his support of youth during the organization's Congressional Breakfast.

Congressman Fattah continues his mentoring tour on Thursday, May 2^nd, when he travels to his hometown of Philadelphia to address GEAR UP students from Fels, Overbrook, Germantown and Furness High Schools at a "Lunch with the Leaders" program hosted by the Pennsylvania State Urban League.

Fattah is the architect of GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), the nation's premier in-school program to prepare students from sixth to 12^th grades from low-income or under-served backgrounds for the rigors of college. Since its enactment in 1998, GEAR UP has served 12 million students in 49 states and several U.S. territories. Some $4 billion in federal funds has been allocated to GEAR UP.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah